Washed In His Blood

1 Peter 1:18-19

The truth we are going to discuss today has ceased to be mentioned in a lot of churches. There are professors in some of our nations best known seminaries that de-emphasize or even deny the importance of it. Some church growth “experts” suggest that you never mention this subject in sermons or services because it is offensive to many “Christians” and non-Christians alike. Even believers rarely reference it in their witnessing or conversations with others.

What biblical matter could cause such a stir among so many people? It’s THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. And yet the pages of Scripture are stained with the symbolic and literal references to Christ's blood.

From the beginning of the Bible with the shedding of blood to make coats of skin for Adam & Eve to the last book of the Bible, the blood of Christ is a prominent theme. Actually, it is the very heartbeat of all the Scriptures.

According to one count, there are at least 43 direct references to the blood of Christ in the New Testament alone.

Because of the prominence of Christ’s blood in scripture, it is the theme of many of our most beloved Christian hymns:

• “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?”
• “Are You Washed in the Blood of the Lamb?”
• “Nothing but the Blood”
• “Saved by the Blood”
• “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood”
• “There is Power in the Blood”
• “When I See the Blood”

And, why is it that we as believers and churches should never stop talking about and honoring the blood of Christ? Because...

1. The Blood of Christ is divine blood.

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” (Matthew 1:23)

There are many aspects that are clearly unique about the person of Jesus Christ! One of those is a reference to Him in Genesis 3:15 where He is called the “seed of the woman,” which is a very unusual statement. The reason for this terminology is that Christ was conceived miraculously without the “seed” of an earthly father. Consequently, every aspect of Christ is unique, including His blood that was unlike any other human being. It had to be divine and though it functioned in His body like blood functions in our bodies, it did not have the corruption of sin.

Furthermore, in the mother’s womb, the blood of Jesus and his mother’s blood never commingled.

Medical doctor, M.R. DeHann writes, “It is unnecessary that a single drop of blood be given to the developing embryo in the womb of the mother…The mother provides the fetus…with the nutritive elements for the building of that little body in the secret of her womb, but all of the blood which forms in it is formed in the embryo itself. From the time of conception to the time of birth of the infant not one single drop of blood passes from mother to child. The placenta…is so constructed that although all the soluble nutritive elements such as proteins, fats, carbohydrates, salts, minerals and even antibodies pass freely from mother to child and the waste products of the child’s metabolism are passed back to the mother’s circulation, no actual interchange of a single drop of blood ever occurs normally. All the blood which is in that child is produced within the child itself...” (M.R. DeHann, The Chemistry of the Blood, p.31)

As you can imagine, the whole process of any baby's development is a miracle in itself. But, the means of delivering the divine One to us through the virgin Mary was a miracle beyond human comprehension. The truth that His blood is divine in its origin impacts every other aspect of Christ being God in the flesh.

Talk show host Larry King made a very perceptive comment when he was asked whom he would most like to have interviewed during his career from across history. One of those he named was Jesus Christ. “What would you have asked Him?” Came the rejoinder to Mr. King. “I would like to ask Him if He was indeed virgin born, because the answer to that question would define history."

In fact, it does define history! No one has ever been born like Jesus, nor will there be another like Him. The divine blood that flowed in His veins was the result of His miraculous conception.

2. The blood of Christ is imperishable blood.

...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (1 Peter 1:18-19)

The Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament says, “corruptible” means, “pertaining to that which is bound to disintegrate and die—perishable, mortal.” (Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains. New York: United Bible Societies.)

The word “Corruptible” (phthartos) is always used in the New Testament of things which will decay or wear out (cf. Romans 1:23; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 15:53–54; 1 Peter 1:23) because they belong to this world or this age.

Because Jesus fulfilled all the types and symbols of the Old Testament when He ascended to the Father after His resurrection, His imperishable blood was taken into the presence of the Father to be presented as the atonement for mankind’s sins. In other words, He followed exactly the figure of the Old Testament, only not with the blood of bulls and goats. He went into that Heavenly realm with His own "incorruptible" blood!. (cf. Hebrews 9:1-14, 22-28)

Let's go behind the scenes into the most holy place where few men have ever been before...

That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth. There were two rooms in that Tabernacle. In the first room were a lampstand, a table, and sacred loaves of bread on the table. This room was called the Holy Place. Then there was a curtain, and behind the curtain was the second room called the Most Holy Place. In that room were a gold incense altar and a wooden chest called the Ark of the Covenant, which was covered with gold on all sides. Inside the Ark were a gold jar containing manna, Aaron’s staff that sprouted leaves, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the Ark were the cherubim of divine glory, whose wings stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement. But we cannot explain these things in detail now. When these things were all in place, the priests regularly entered the first room as they performed their religious duties. But only the high priest ever entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use. This is an illustration pointing to the present time. For the gifts and sacrifices that the priests offer are not able to cleanse the consciences of the people who bring them. For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established. So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins...In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals. For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice. And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:1-14; 22-28 NLT)

This idea that Christ’s blood is imperishable and was presented to the Father is not some new doctrine. It is a position laid out in this text and has long been held by scholars in the church.

J.A. Bengel died in 1752. He wrote, “The preciousness of that blood excludes all corruption. Its supreme value requires its imperishability…therefore He as the high priest carried His own blood, in separation from His body, into the sanctuary.” (John A. Bengel, Gnomon of the New Testament, translated by Andrew R. Fausset [Edinburgh, 1858], IV, pp.474-475)

F.B. Meyer in the nineteenth century wrote, “But there is no dread to those who know that God will commune with them from above the mercy-seat, which completely meets the case, and is sprinkled with blood. But, Ah, no blood of goat or calf can speak the priceless value of His blood, by which we have access into the holiest. Oh precious blood! It is as fresh and efficacious as ever.” (Commentary on Hebrews, The Way Into the Holiest, Christian Literature Crusade reprint, pp. 109 & 117)

Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote, “When we climb into Heaven itself…we shall not have gone beyond the influence of the Blood of sprinkling; nay we shall see it there more truly present than any other place. ‘What!’ You say ‘the blood of Jesus in Heaven?’ Yes! Let those who talk lightly of the precious blood correct their view ere they be guilty of blasphemy…For me there is nothing worth thinking of or preaching about but this grand theme. The Blood of Christ is the life of the Gospel.” (C.H. Spurgeon, The Blood of Sprinkling, February 28, 1886, Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit #1, 888, Vol. 32, p.121, reprinted by Pilgrim Publications, Pasadena, Texas)

R.A. Torrey said, “We not only have a Savior who died and so made atonement for sin, but also a Savior who arose and carried the blood into the holy of holies – God’s own presence – and presents it there, and who ever lives and pleads our case.” (R.A. Torrey, What the Bible Teaches, 1898, p.184)

In Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown’s commentary on the Bible, they write, “His blood was entirely ‘poured out’ of His body by the various ways in which it was shed, His bloody sweat, the crown of thorns, the scourging, the nails, and after death the spear...No Scripture states it was again put into the Lord's body. At His ascension, as our great High Priest, He entered the heavenly holiest place…carrying it separately from his body…The blood itself, therefore, continues still in heaven before God, the perpetual ransom price of 'the eternal covenant.' Once for all Christ sprinkled the blood peculiarly for us at His ascension…it is called ‘the blood of sprinkling,’ on account also of its continued use in heaven…His glorified body does not require meat, nor the circulation of the blood. His blood introduced into heaven took away the dragon's right to accuse…” (Jamieson. Fausset, and Brown, Vol. III, p.576-577)

J. Vernon McGee wrote, “I say now to you very definitely and dogmatically that I believe His blood is even now in Heaven, and throughout endless ages it will be there to remind us of the awful price Christ paid to redeem us.” (Dr. J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, vol. 5, Thomas Nelson, 1983, p.560)

Christ’s blood is ever before the Father as evidence of His substitutionary death, reminding us of the great price He paid for our souls!

3. The blood of Christ is innocent blood.

Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” (Matthew 27:3-4)

Christ’s innocence is included in the doctrine of His impeccability. The word impeccability comes from the Latin word meaning “to sin” (peccare) and reminds us that Christ not only did not sin, but also that He COULD NOT sin.

One theologian defined this truth in this way. He said, “an impeccable will is one that is so mighty in its self determination to good, that it cannot be conquered by any temptation to evil however great.” (William G. Shedd, Dogmatic Theology)

Let’s just let the scripture speak for itself and come to our own conclusion from the preponderance of the evidence.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth…” (1 Peter 2:21-22)

And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. (1 John 3:5)

One of our young men recently asked me a question for a school project he was working on. He wanted to know, “Could Jesus have accepted Satan's temptation when Jesus is a form of God and it is impossible for God to sin?” I responded to him by explaining that Scripture teaches that Jesus could not and did not ever sin (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22). I further explained that Jesus was fully human, but He was not born with a sin nature. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but He remained sinless because God is incapable of sinning. It was only Jesus that was able to bear the full weight of Satan's temptation without sinning. Consequently, He was tempted more fully than any other person that has ever lived because Satan used all his power to entice Jesus to yield. The blood Jesus shed at Calvary was truly innocent blood in every way!

4. The blood of Jesus is cleansing blood.

John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood… (Revelation 1:4-5)

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

One night in a church service a young woman felt the conviction of God in her heart. She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Savior. This young woman had experienced a very rough past, including alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But the change in her was immediate and evident.

As time past she grew in her faith and became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry through teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor’s son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. You see, about half of the church family didn’t think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor’s son.

The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting. As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being said about her. As she began to cry, the pastor’s son stood. Unable to listen any longer he said:

“My fiancee’s past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the Blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?”

Most in the church that day began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Forgiveness is a foundational part of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. If the blood of Jesus doesn’t cleanse the worst among us completely, then it can’t cleanse any of us completely.

Song:

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel’s veins;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

Lose all their guilty stains, lose all their guilty stains;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day;

And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

Washed all my sins away, washed all my sins away;

And there have I, though vile as he, washed all my sins away.

5. The blood of Christ is precious blood.

...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. (I Peter 1:18, 19 NKJV)

The Greek word for “precious” carries two ideas: 1. That the cost of something is beyond human calculation. 2. That something is being held in high regard because of its great value. Both of these definitions come together in Peter’s words.

Someone has rightly said, “Let us never forget that the subject of the blood lies near the heart of God, for it has to do with the death of His Son.” Because of that, the subject of the blood of Christ should be important to us, as well.

Dr. Paul Brand was a missionary doctor serving in India. He shared an experience from his early days in the country. He arrived as an orthopedic surgeon at the Christian Medical College in Vellore to work alongside a famous surgeon, Dr. Reeve Bretts from Boston. He learned quickly that to the people of India, blood was life and that most people wouldn’t even think of giving up lifeblood, even to help someone else.

One day a twelve-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital suffering with a very bad lung condition. To save her life, surgery would be necessary which would require at least three pints of blood. The hospital only had two pints left. Upon learning this, the family pooled their money and offered to buy the needed pint.

When Dr. Bretts explained that there was no more blood and that one of them would need to donate blood to save the young girl’s life, the family pushed forward a frail old woman weighing only ninety-five pounds. By this time Dr. Bretts patience was wearing thin and when the healthy ones cowered back he went off with a torrent of words and finger jabs.

Finally, with a melodramatic flourish, Dr. Bretts rolled up his own sleeve and called Dr. Brand over to take the blood from his arm. The family watched in awe as the rich, red fountain filled the bottle. All at once there was a babble of voices saying, “Look, the sahib doctor is giving his own life.”

That is what Christ did for you on Calvary when He shed His crimson blood on the cross, thus purchasing you for Himself that you might be free from the slave market of sin. (Robert J. Morgan, Stories, Illustrations, & Quotes, pp. 80-81)

There are many other things that could be said about the blood of Jesus. Here is a list of some of them...

• The Blood of Christ was shed for the remission of our sins. (Matthew 26:28)
• Through the Blood of Christ we have redemption; that is, we have been bought out of the slave market of sin. (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; I Peter 1:18-19)
• Through the Blood of Christ we have peace with God.  (Colossians 1:20; Ephesians 2:14)
• Through the Blood of Christ we who were "far off" are "brought near.” (Ephesians 2:13)
• Through the Blood of Christ the guilt and condemnation we incurred from breaking God's law is "wiped out.” (Colossians 2:13-14)
• The Blood of Christ purges our conscience so that our service to the Living God might be acceptable. (Hebrews 9:14)
• The Blood of Christ gives us an exalted standing and makes us "kings and priests to...God.” (Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9-10)
• Through the Blood of Christ we are justified before God. (Romans 5:9)
• Through the Blood of Christ we are sanctified. (I Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:14; 13:12)
• Through the Blood of Christ we have eternal security and the assurance of salvation. (Hebrews 9:12; 10:10-14; 13:20)
• Through the Blood of Christ we are made "one" with all other believers in the new body of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13-14)
• Through the Blood of Christ we are reconciled to God. (II Corinthians 5:17-21)
• Through the Blood of Christ we can enter into "the Holy of Holies,” that is, into the very presence of God in Heaven. (Hebrews 10:19-22)
• Through the Blood of Christ He purchased for us an “eternal inheritance.” (Hebrews 9:14-15)
• Through the Blood of Christ we overcome the Devil. (Revelation 12:11)

Closing:

1. Praise God for Christ’s shed blood on Calvary.

And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)

2. Come, be washed from your sins in His blood today.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “Morality may keep you out of jail, but it takes the blood of Christ to keep you out of hell.”

3. Go in peace, knowing your sins are forgiven forever.